"Anything to Grease the Skids for Fracking"

November 4, 2011

Bill, I certainly agree with you that some people will do anything to win an election, In the last few days I've been subjected to an incredible number of personal attacks, some from folks like you who don't even live in my town.

Nothing I could do as supervisor of the Town of Callicoon could possibly affect what you can, or cannot do, with your land in the towns of Delaware and Fremont, so why are you so interested in how the residents in my town choose to vote? Wouldn't it make more sense for you to focus on the race between Steve Lundgren and Ed Sykes? There's an election where you can actually cast a ballot.

I can't tell if you really don't understand my position on town bans, or if you're just trying to scare the Town of Callicoon voters. Let me state my position one more time, as simply and as clearly as I possibly can.

I've taken the time to review the opinions of the lawyers who have studied this issue,and I've concluded that towns do not have the right to ban fracking, but they do have the right to control all sorts of industrial activities, including fracking, by enacting appropriate zoning ordinances. As Supervisor (or as a private citizen) I will continue to advocate appropriate zoning ordinances that reflect the wishes of the majority of the residents of the town, and that protect the public health, and the property rights of everyone. That's nothing to be alarmed about - democratic decision-making is the American way.

By the way, no one has claimed that Rural Heritage candidates have been endorsed by the Farm Bureau, just by farmers.